Qfc Chain Buys Art's, Low-Cost Ballard Grocery

Art's Food Center, a Ballard institution whose wide-ranging merchandise and low prices earned customer loyalty for more than 50 years, has been acquired by the Quality Food Centers (QFC) chain.

Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in late July, were undisclosed.

QFC is mapping out an extensive remodeling plan for the 60,880-square-foot store at 9999 Holman Road N.W. in North Seattle. Company officials said the remodeling will center around installing QFC's signature departments, including deli, bakery and produce divisions.

The store name will be changed to QFC during the latter stages of the remodeling process, said Mike Huse, QFC's senior vice president and chief operating officer. There are no plans to close during the remodeling.

Scott Case, president of Art's and son of its founder, the late Arthur Case, said the store's work force will be kept on.

"When the customers come in here, they'll recognize all the people they've seen over the years," Case said.

Art's opened for business in 1940, moving to its current location in 1956. It later expanded to locations in Seattle and Mercer Island, but the Ballard store is the only one remaining.

The store stressed low prices, matched competitors' coupons and offered an expansive collection of merchandise, including hardware and automotive merchandise in addition to groceries.

The low-price focus traditionally followed by Art's is likely to change under QFC, an 83-store chain known for its emphasis on premium products.

For QFC, the agreement marks the latest in a string of locally-owned-grocery-store acquisitions. The Bellevue-based chain, which recently was acquired by Fred Meyer of Portland, bought the Wallingford Food Giant in 1996 and 12 neighborhood-based Olson's Food Stores in 1994.

QFC Chief Executive Dan Kourkoumelis said the company plans to maintain Art's "unique qualities."

"Art's has built an outstanding reputation in this fine community and we consider it a privilege to have the opportunity to carry on this tradition," Kourkoumelis said in a statement.

QFC said the addition of Art's will have no effect on another nearby QFC store in Ballard at 2237 N.W. 58th St.

Jake Batsell's phone message number is 206-464-2595. His e-mail address is: jbatsell@seattletimes.com